Former Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka dies at 93

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka. Photo 2011 by Wendy Osher.

As a result, nearly two-dozen Medals of Honor, the military’s highest award, were ultimately bestowed belatedly, some posthumously, on Asian American veterans, a lot of them of Japanese heritage.

Ige ordered Hawaii’s state flag and the USA flag to be flown at half-staff in honor of Akaka. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.

“It’s a moment to remember all of his contributions on behalf of the people of Hawaii”, Ige said. As a World War II Army veteran, his life was changed by the GI bill, and he believed in the government’s power to improve people’s lives-a guiding principle during his 36 years of service in Congress.

Daniel Kahikina Akaka was born in Honolulu on September 11, 1924, the youngest of eight children. During World War II, he served with the Army Corps of Engineers on Saipan and Tinian.

After Hawaii was admitted into the union in 1959, he was an official in the state’s Department of Education and was named director of the Hawaii Office of Economic Opportunity, an antipoverty program.

Former senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka, the first native Hawaiian elected to Congress, died Friday. He was re-elected seven times. In 1990, Hawaiian Democratic Gov. John Waihee appointed Akaka to fill the Senate seat previously held by the recently deceased Democratic Sen. He was elected that fall and re-elected in 1994, 2000 and 2006.

In 2011, Akaka announced that he would not be running in 2012. “I have a Hawaiian style of dealing with my colleagues, ” he said.

Members of the state’s congressional delegation tweeted tributes to Akaka on Friday, with Democratic Sen.

Gov. David Ige: “Our beloved Sen”. Akaka’s interment. “Our state mourns the loss of this man of upright character”. A hui hou, Sen. Daniel Akaka. File photo courtesy electshan.com. He treated everyone with genuine kindness, grace and compassion.

House of Representatives Speaker Scott K. Saiki released the following statement on the passing of Senator Daniel Akaka. He never lost sight of his values and the need to protect our state and its people.

“We talk only of the Akaka Bill but he was instrumental in funding numerous programs that Hawaii has, he was the partner of Senator Inouye, and often times Senator Inouye often deferred to Senator Akaka”, Waihee said. “My deepest condolences to Aunty Millie and the entire Akaka family during this time”. “As he so often said, mahalo nui loa, my friend”.

Senator Daniel K. Akaka at the Democratic Grand Rally in Hilo Monday, November 1, 2010. A pure heart, a determined warrior for native Hawaiians, and a true public servant.

Jon Yoshimura, the senator’s former communications director, confirmed the death, saying Akaka had been hospitalized for several months, the Associated Press reported. He represented everything that was good in all of us. “Rest in peace and love, Senator Akaka”. You taught Congress and our nation how to fight with dignity and Aloha. “We’ve lost a great leader”, Hanabusa said. Senator’s passionate advocacy on behalf of Hawaii, Native Hawaiians, his students, veterans, and his contributions to our community and humanity can not easily be measured. He gave his heart to Hawaii.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: “Today is a sad day for Hawaii and our nation”.

Condolences are pouring in this morning, many speaking of the kind nature and aloha spirit that the late senator embodied. He treated everyone equally, with kindness, respect and love – no matter who they were or how they treated him. He responded always with aloha, sharing his warm smile & embrace w/ all.

“I don’t know of anyone else in this time who is going to be able to be like Senator Akaka”. I will miss his quiet leadership. Senator Akaka also left his mark on the Dodd-Frank Act by making sure it improved financial literacy and expanded consumer and investor protections, and he secured funding for the H-3 as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and passed into law the Commercial Space Launch Act. Akaka always put his constituents first. Our thoughts are with his family in this hard time.

Akaka, who lived in Honolulu, is survived by his wife, Mary Mildred Chong, whom he married in 1948; a daughter, Millannie Akaka Mattson; four sons, Daniel Jr., Gerard, Alan and Nicholas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.